The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-04-15
BOSS TWEED AND HIS MEN

i
Mr.. L. j. Jennings, formerly con-
nected with The New York Times, and
now member of parliament. recent
ly related to representative OF The
London World the story OF his fight
with Tammany.
"Before had been at work very
long in New York." says Mr.. Jennings,
sit struck me as a curious thing that
none OF the city accounts were ever
published. There was alaw requiring
them to be issued quarterly and annu-
ally, but not sign OF them could
find anywhere. The taxation OF the
city amounted to 94, ,OOO,o 900 year,
and in the course of few years a
debt had been run up OF over f2O,.
100000. There never was O city SO
badly lighted and paved. All the du.
ties OF city government eneglected.
What, then, became OF all the money?
set myself to work to
find out. The city govern.
ment was entirely in the hands OF Boss
Tweed and his merry men. They had
yachts and fine carriages and fast
trotters, and wore diamonds in their
shirtfronts almost us large as saucers.
A few years previously most of them
had beer unknown and penniless men.
The police, the sheriffs, the whole con,
troll OF the city, was in their hands.
One day managed to find out that
Il sum equal to 100000 has been
charged for carpets in building
known as the courthouse. went
over the courthouse and had a look
round. There we're no carpets there
-only q little mating, which might
have been bought for ego. Little by
little got ut the secrets OF the city
account books. But had nothing
which could be produced in the shape
of legal proof. The bold course was
the only one to take. / asonished
the city one morning by coming out
with an article entitled Two Thieves
denounced Tweed and his confcder.
ntes as public robbers. They abused
me to their hearts content In theil
newspapers; every crime had ever
heard OF was laid at my door. / was
arrested two or three times q day as
\ S,rIu hgnt grew brisk; but
the magistrates, albeit in
the ring never refused bail, and there
we're gentlemen OF the city who stood
ready day and night to give bail for
me to the extent of $5,OOO,OOO, had
30 much been wanted. | was waited
for as went home at 2 or 3 in the
morning, but somehow kind friends
4 always missed me. All kinds OF In
ducements were offered me to shut
| up and go away. One night man
4 came suddenly into my room at the
Office, shut the door quickly. and an-
nouneed that he intended to cut the
heart cut Of me. AS you see i
am here, therefore it stands to
reason he did not do it. 1t is
needless for me to dwell on little Incl
cents OF that kind. There was q we'll.
known man who had once held an OF
hcial position in the Tammany organ
izntion, but had been unfairly pushed
out OF it. He had Il friend in the comp
| troller's Office, where all the city books
were kept. One night he came into my
room, took his hat off, and remarked
Il
You have had hard fight, said he eli.
couragingly. Have still, Think. repli-
ed /, as got up to look out OF the win
dow. The truth was that Ifeltunusually
discouraged that night. There seemed
to be no end to the long road | was
on. 4 said you have had it, said my
acquaintance quietly, pulling out roll
of paper from his pocket. 'Hereis the
A proofs, he went on. OF all the charges
4 you have made-exact transcripts
from the e6mptroller's book. The
money stolen is over 100000, 900
Don't let the boys know that you have
. got those papers; they would murde.
you in u tiyinkling if they as much as
suspected it, held out my hand fol
the inestlmable roll, ran off home
with 1t. and sat up all night Olsen,
tangling the iignles and puzzling ont the
whole story. Tho proof was ample
but it took me soms days to bring il
into u shape which would make its
due impression on the public mind
The figures had been copied surrepti
tiously, at different times, and were
all in chaos Hundreds OF thousands
, OF dollars were charged to various
parsons who, soon iound, had Nc
existence, a plasterer had been pait
1856, 900 ior plastering one building
Furnishing that building had cost
, f1, 100000, although there wer,
/ only u few stools and desks il tht
, place. need not tell you the details
sntlice it to say that we got the cor
rnpt ipdgas impeached and removed
from the benehj the boss and his ac
complies became tusitfves. the entir,
ring was shattered to fragments.